by | May 29, 2012

come cheat with me

Adam Nathan

How often do you entertain at home?  Does the thought of the cooking fill you with dread?  Or do you love the cooking but hate the endless clearing up and then… as the last wine glass is washed and dried you realise that you didn’t finish even one of the conversations you started with your carefully chosen guests?

Our hosts last night were wiser than that.  Adam Nathan had been hired as our chef for the evening and, as a result, the hostess enjoyed all conversation, wine, food and I’m sure the leftovers today too.

Recently graduating from Le Cordon Bleu, 24 year old Adam is nothing less than passionate about food.  Citing his mother as his inspiration, he offers his clients a number of starter/mains/desserts options, recommends suitable wines and can cater for up to 16 for a sit down dinner or 40 for a buffet.  A recent tea party for 60 and a regular drop off of weekly meals for a house-bound couple demonstrate that clearly no job daunts him.

Rhubarb Crumble

What did we eat?  Canapés in the garden, mushroom raviolis with sautéed porcini mushrooms in a cream and parsley sauce, slow-roasted shoulder of lamb, roast potatoes, long stem broccoli and a green salad.  Desert was a rhubarb crumble with deliciously nutty topping served with vanilla custard.  Chocolate brownies and mind-blowingly scrumptious white chocolate, mango and passion fruit bites as petits fours.

Adam is the latest addition to the cheat’s dinner party circuit and a perfect solution for all of us who would love to entertain more but….well, don’t want to get egg on our face.

A 3 course dinner cooked by Adam in your home costs £45-50 per head (depending on menu).  www.adamnathancatering.com

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by | May 28, 2012

blow dry queen

I don’t think there is a girl on this planet who doesn’t dream of having a daily blow-dry. I once read that Anna Wintour’s hairdresser pops by each morning to ‘fix’ her hair and, quite frankly, I am green with envy. We all feel (and look) better with smooth, silky salon-blown hair. That said, a recent girlie debate unanimously agreed that there is nothing more unrelaxing than a disappointing blow dry. A hairdresser who clearly doesn’t know how to style, curl and root-lift is not worth a visit. So, I challenged myself to find three of the best blow-dries in west London…

  1. 77; Could easily be mistaken for anything but a hair salon. The French owners live locally, are cool, handsome and deliciously foreign. Interior designed in reaction to the ennui of regular salons (with enclosed hair stations and a bored hairdresser feel), I loved sitting in 77 watching the team and their equally fashionable clients buzzing around as if they were in a bar or coffee shop.  My blow dry snack of homemade cheese straws and pile of current-yet-quirky magazines added to my enjoyment. My hair was done by Noa and looked adequately glamorous, but it was the enjoyment time-out factor which won me over. £32. Available at 77 Westbourne Park Road, Paddington, London, W2; Tue–Sat, 9.30am–6.30pm; 020 7221 6794

    77

    77 salon

  2. Urban Retreat; Navigating the labyrinth that is Harrods, I finally found myself on the fifth floor of the world’s most famous department store, entering their salon. Josh Rees-Hole, of reality TV show Great British Hairdresser, greeted me to discuss how my locks should look, once he had finished with me.  As a senior stylist aged only 24, you would imagine an ego as big as his quiff. But no. Josh is as down to earth as his Welsh roots and gave me a Kate Middleton do with cascading curls. In my dreams, Josh lives next door to me and pops in regularly for a cup of sugar…with his brushes and dryer. £45. Available at Fifth Floor Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, London, SW1X; Mon–Sat 10am–8pm; ?Sun 11am–6pm; 020 7893 8333

    Urban Retreat

    Urban Retreat

  3. SAS; Having reviewed the trendy and the ultimate, I felt I should conclude with a local blow-dry for this round-up. SAS is a Turkish salon in the heart of Maida Vale and was recommended to me by a girlfriend with a great head of (blown) hair. Alan was not out to impress me. However, in record time (with a back-to-back day of clients breathing down his neck) using his power drier at full force, he had me volumised, glam-styled and ready to party. I’d definitely say that this is the efficient option if you need to be styled and run. Just don’t look for time to put your feet up. £26. Available at 9 Clifton Road, London, W9; Mon 9am–6pm; ?Tue–Sat 9am–7pm; Sun 10am–5pm; 020 7286 9988

 

this article appeared on West London Living

 

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by | May 25, 2012

double visit to House of Lords

Having never been to the House of Lords, I have now been twice  – this week.  And, even more unusually, I have spoken at both of these evening events.

The first, hosted by the brilliantly eloquent Lord Digby Jones, was a private dinner for 30.  British Success in Challenging Times was the topic for debate but, and this is why I was asked to speak, the focus soon shifted onto the mission of finding a cure for breast cancer.

We all learnt that a major obstacle in finding a cure for breast cancer and understanding more about gene mutations such as BRCA has been the shortage of good quality tissue.  Instead of the scientists spending months trying to track down the right tissue samples for their research, Breast Cancer Campaign has set up and now funds revolutionary Tissue Banks.

The second event, last night, was a drinks party for 350 of Breast Cancer Campaign‘s supporters.  It was utterly humbling to meet so many of those who have committed time, energy and resource to support the inspiring research charity.

For those readers who haven’t witnessed first hand my BRCA gene mutation journey, my speech at both events is one which I hope will raise awareness and funds in equal measure.  I am passionate about changing the future for the next generation.  Please do feel free to contact me if you are interested in reading my speech, think you may want to support the cause or if you would simply like to know more about BRCA Daughters, a committee as dedicated as myself.

BRCAdaughters@gmail.com

 

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by | May 23, 2012

here comes the sun

I have heard rumours of the artist and illustrator, Erin Petson edging west to collaborate with the holiday boutique, Biondi Couture  as a celebration of the beginning of Summer.  Her rather unique interpretation of the season is printed on a limited edition silk sarong (£200), and  for those of us unconvinced of the warmer months ahead, it can also be worn as a scarf or even hung as art.

Abbey Clancy in a Vix bikini

 

 

Pop along to Biondi this weekend (Fri 25th/Sat 26th May) to admire Erin’s artwork hung in the boutique, pick up this season’s infamous Betsy Bia bikini by Vix or to simply soak up the sound of Summer.

Biondi Couture  55b Old Church St, Chelsea SW3

 

 

 

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